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The Patriots came up a little short this weekend in their quest to advance to the Super Bowl, and their Surface Pro 3 tablets did, too. They both found themselves on the losing end yesterday.

During the first half of their AFC Championship showdown versus the Broncos, the Patriots’ encountered difficulty trying to utilize their Surface Pros. The problem started after a defensive possession, and NFL officials quickly began working to resolve the situation. It turned out that the “trouble with the Microsoft Surface tablets” they were having was actually a network issue.

As reports about the breakdown spread, however, much more emphasis was placed on the Surface Pro side of the equation. Based on some of the posts that went up after the game, you’d think the tablets themselves were what caused the Patriots to lose.

Microsoft has gotten much, much more than they bargained for with the Surface deal. What someone in the marketing department thought would be a golden opportunity to build up the Surface brand has turned into a season-long stream of bad press.

At the best of times, announcers refer to them as iPads. Analyst and former Bears quarterback Jay Cutler even referred to them as “knock-off iPads,” on one occasion. When things go south, however, no one seems to have a problem remembering that they’re Microsoft Surface tablets.

As one CBS reporter put it during the game, “I don’t know if those tablets are going to help.” What the Patriots needed more than a reliable network connection and a way to review photos or previous plays was a way to convert on fourth and one. Or possibly a do-over for Stephen Gostkowski on that missed extra point attempt… the guy hadn’t missed one in nine years, for crying out loud…